Bout depends on Garcia winning welterweight title
Shakur Stevenson says he will fight Ryan Garcia at 144 pounds if Garcia handles business in his welterweight title bout tonight. The WBO 140-pound champion put his position on record in an interview with Inside the Ring.
“I love the fight. I think that’s perfect. I think it’ll be a lot of excitement in that fight. It’s a big money fight,” Stevenson told Inside the Ring.
He did not soften his view of the matchup.
“Ryan Garcia is somebody who comes in there [and] you never know which version of him is going to show up,” Stevenson said. “If the good version of him shows up, he gets spanked. If the bad version of him shows up, he gets spanked.”
The tone was direct. Stevenson sees Garcia as dangerous in spots but inconsistent across rounds. From a technical standpoint, Stevenson relies on jab discipline and range control. He positions his feet first, takes away clean lanes, and counters when opponents reach.
Garcia’s confidence remains intact. Speaking to Mike Coppinger, he addressed the Stevenson talk head-on.
“I know he’s confident, so let’s run it,” Garcia said. “I just love something about fighting somebody people don’t think I’m going to beat. It’s like the Devin Haney effect.”
Garcia believes his reaction time closes the gap.
“With Shakur, they’re going to think he’s going to spank me, blah, blah, blah. When I get in there, and I start hitting him, it’s gonna be [different] because I’m not one of those fighters that don’t have a quick eye,” Garcia said. “He knows that my eye is quick. That same eye twitch that Shakur has, [I have it too].”
This fight would hinge on pace and positioning. Stevenson dictates distance and forces opponents to reset. Garcia looks to explode in combinations, especially with the left hook, once he feels range.
If Garcia wins a welterweight title, the 144-pound discussion moves from talk to negotiation. If he falls short, Stevenson remains at 140 and continues to defend his position among the division’s titleholders.